Worn out or Well Used

When my husband was in seminary, he had a professor who said that many Americans were neophiliacs. We all have seen many perhaps even ourselves taken by all that is new and pretty instead of the old tried and true. A large number of us would have to admit that we are lovers of the new validating the professor's category.

Recently my husband took his faded worn out jeans to have a knee repaired.The cost of the repair would have gone a long way towards buying a new pair. I said nothing as he reminded me that these were his favorite. Since I would have purchased a replacement pair long ago, I quietly shook my head in wonder as he told me his plan.

This morning he told me of another possession that is wearing out. His Bible needs to be rebound. This is the second Bible that has needed this attention.. Most of us rarely wear out anything, certainly not jeans and 2 Bibles.

I'm sure if I could accurately examine my husband's past wardrobe I'd find many things that stood the test of time. Signs of wear are not always a bad thing. Sometimes those frayed edges come about because the garment is comfortable and brings to mind precious memories. Bibles can also bare frayed edges when it is treasured, when its owner daily reads it and regularly inserts notes in the margins.

My husband's Bible is precious whether or not it ever gets rebound or replaced. Clothing can be a problem as knees show through and colors fade. Sometimes a change of style will encourage some of  us to replace worn clothing. Unlike clothing a worn Bible even if it is replaced is still the same. No matter how frayed the Bible, the character of our heavenly father shines through its stories and the story of salvation shines through each book.

Treasure all that God has provided. Be a good steward of what God has provided but cling to that which has eternal value.

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